The British Youth Council’s Youth Select Committee will launch its report on ‘racism and religious discrimination’ on Wednesday 16th November 2016. The report, launched as part of UK Parliament Week, concludes that people’s attitudes towards racism and religious discrimination have become normalised and there is ambiguity surrounding what constitutes such behaviour. It stresses that the Government needs to do more to define racism and religious discrimination as well as to raise awareness of what these definitions actually mean in practice. The committee also recommends making PSHE a compulsory subject in schools, with teachers receiving better training on tackling racism and religious discrimination; a recommendation the Government has not ruled out.

Bronagh Hughes, 18, Chair of the Youth Select Committee said: “Throughout our extensive inquiry into racism and religious discrimination, it became apparent to the Committee that racism and religious discrimination remains prevalent in the lives of many young people living in the UK. The UK’s decision to leave the EU brought this issue to the forefront of political discussion following the post-Brexit surge in hate crime that surfaced. Moving forward, we must ensure that this is high on the agenda for decision makers so that we can make positive steps to combat both racism and religious discrimination. The Committee is really keen to hear the Government’s response to our recommendations.”

Now in its fifth year, the Youth Select Committee, supported by the House of Commons, takes evidence in public and has its proceedings streamed online and recorded in Hansard. The eleven committee members are aged 15-19 and include Members of UK Youth Parliament, Youth Councillors, a Young Mayor, reserved seats and representatives from each of the devolved nations. Previous inquiries have reported on transport, education, votes at 16, and mental health.

This year’s inquiry considered:

• the level and quality of awareness and education in schools
• the prevalence of racism and religious discrimination and how organisations and young people are attempting to tackle it
• how the issues can be tackled at a local level by communities;
• how tackling racism and religious discrimination should be approached at a national level by the Government.

Evidence was gathered from a range of witnesses, including charities, young people, academics, and professionals.

‘Tackling racism and religious discrimination’ was chosen as one of the top priorities in a ballot of 969,992 young people conducted in 2015, and subsequently became the topic of focus for this year’s Youth Select Committee. The issue was highlighted as a priority once again in a 2016 poll of 978,216 young people, making it clear that the issue is of growing importance to young people living in the UK. The committee realises that despite the UK having strong equal rights laws and a Government Equalities Office responsible for taking action to remove barriers to equality and help build a fairer society, racism and religious discrimination continue to remain prevalent in everyday life for many people living in the UK. The UK’s decision to leave the European Union, and the repercussions of that vote in subsequent weeks brought this issue to the forefront of public attention.

Find out more about the Youth Select Committee

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The British Youth Council’s Youth Select Committee today announces a call for evidence on racism and religious discrimination. The Committee will explore issues around awareness, prevention, education and services for young people (under 25) and is calling for evidence from a wide range of witnesses including individuals and organisations, service providers, researchers and campaigners. Evidence from young people is particularly welcome.

Now in its fifth year, the Youth Select Committee is a British Youth Council initiative, supported by the House of Commons, which takes evidence in public and has its proceedings televised and recorded in Hansard. The eleven committee members are aged 13-18 and include Members of UK Youth Parliament, Youth Councillors, a Young Mayor, reserved seats and representatives from each of the devolved nations. Previous inquiries have reported on Transport, Education, Votes at 16, and Mental Health.

Find out how to submit and download the full terms of reference.

Bronagh Hughes, 17, Chair of the Youth Select Committee said: “Racism and religious discrimination is an extremely important issue. Last year’s passionate UK Youth Parliament debate highlights that young people feel more must be done to tackle it. It’s important that young people engage with politics and as a Committee we are keen to hear what people have to say about this issue”.

The Committee’s call for written evidence closes at 12 noon on 7th June 2015 and the Youth Select Committee will hold oral evidence sessions in the House of Commons in June and July 2015. Written evidence should be submitted via email tobycyouthselect@parliament.uk or via post to the Clerk of the Youth Select Committee, c/o The Restoration and Renewal of the Palace of Westminster Programme, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA.

Please contact the inquiry team on bycyouthselect@parliament.uk

The Government has today (Thursday 25th February 2016) released its Official Response to the British Youth Council’s Youth Select Committee Report – ‘Young People’s Mental Health’. The joint response from the Department for Education and Department of Health declares mental health and well-being as a ‘top priority in both departments’. It goes on to state that mental health has been “undervalued, underfunded and under prioritised for far too long”.

The Government has taken on board a number of the committee’s recommendations and has committed to “work with young people throughout” as it implements a number of measures. The response continues to state that “It is crucial that we work with young people throughout these changes – as only young people truly understand what they need from their services.” Both departments have acknowledged in particular the role of schools and the curriculum to prepare young people by providing a mental, as well as a physical, health education.

Alistair Burt MP, Minister for Community and Social Care and Sam Gyimah MP, Minister for Childcare and Education praised a “well – informed and thoughtful report” and highlighted the Youth Select Committee’s  “professionalism, passion and ability to ask the right questions”.

The response follows the Youth Select Committee’s inquiry, which launched in April 2015, considered both written and oral evidence and concluded that mental health services for young people are critically underfunded, with much work required to break down the stigma associated with mental health problems. In the report, published in November 2015, the Committee offered recommendations across three key areas: funding and the state of services, a role for education and awareness, stigma and digital culture.

Throughout the inquiry evidence was gathered from a range of witnesses, including charities, young people, academics, Ministers and health and education professionals. The inquiry was triggered after the issue topped the UK Youth Parliament’s Make Your Mark ballot in 2014 of 877,488 young people in the UK. It remains a priority campaign for 2016.

Following the publication of the report, the Department of Health has commissioned a review of the “You’re Welcome” toolkit which assesses the level and quality of youth friendly services.

Rhys Hart,Chair of the Youth Select Committee said:”The Youth Select Committee’s comprehensive investigation discovered some important and serious issues around the current state of young people’s mental health services, we’re glad to see the Government accept our findings and are not only acting on some of our recommendations but have also made it clear mental health is a priority at both the Department for Education and Department of Health. Young people need to be at the forefront of the changes being made so I’m delighted to see the Government have committed to working with young people throughout.”

Alistair Burt MP, Minister for Community and Social Care, said: “When I first met with the Youth Select Committee I was struck by their passion and commitment; it gave me great hope for the young people they represent all across the country. As we start the biggest transformation of youth mental health services in the history of the NHS through our 1.4 billion investment, it is vital that we continue to involve young people every step of the way.”

Sam Gyimah MP, Minister for Childcare and Education, with responsibility for young people’s mental health, said: “I have been genuinely impressed by the dedication of the Youth Select Committee to raise awareness of the challenges that young people with mental health issues face. We are at a turning point in how we tackle children’s mental wellbeing, however, it is only by working together with young people that we can make a genuine difference.

“We have already taken significant steps with more funding for charities that support young people’s mental health, advice to schools on how to improve counselling for pupils and a pilot scheme to look at better ways of linking schools and local health services. Now we are turning to young people to hear directly from them about how we can help them support their peers. We will use their feedback to inform new projects which we’re backing with £1.5million.”

Download Government Response to the Youth Select Committee’s Report on ‘Young People’s Mental Health’.

Today (Tuesday 17 November), the Youth Select Committee will launch its report on ‘Young People’s Mental Health’. The report, launched as part of Parliament Week, considers both written and oral evidence and concludes that mental health services for young people are critically underfunded, with much work required to break down the stigma associated with mental health problems. The inquiry was triggered after the issue topped a British Youth Council poll of 877,488 young people in the UK.

Evidence was gathered from a range of witnesses, including charities, young people, academics, Ministers and health and education professionals. The Committee offers recommendations across three key areas: funding and the state of services, a role for education and awareness, stigma and digital culture.

The state of young people’s health services is explored in detail, with the Committee calling for increased funding, joint working and specialist training for GPs. The report also finds that young people’s mental health services are not equal to those offered to adults, and recommends that local authorities ring fence funding for young people’s mental health.

The Committee collected much evidence on education, and the role that schools and colleges can play in helping young people to learn more about mental wellbeing. The report states that attainment levels should be set in relation to mental education, much in the same way that it is for physical education. These should be followed up by Ofsted and form part of school inspection assessments.

Changes in the ways that young people communicate are also highlighted, with a focus on the issues of cyber bulling or self-harm websites and the risks posed to young people’s mental health. The Committee suggest the creation of a specialist NHS app to offer information and signposting on mental health, as well as a broader campaign to reduce the stigma attached to the idea of being mentally unwell.

The Report will be launched at an event in Portcullis House, chaired by David Natzler, Clerk of the House of Commons, and attended by Youth Select Committee members, Alistair Burt MP, Minister of State for Community and Social Care, Sam Gymiah MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Education, and Dr Sarah Wollaston MP (Chair of Health Select Committee) as well as witnesses. There will be an opportunity for questions.

Rhys Hart, Chair of the Youth Select Committee said: “Our extensive investigation into young people’s mental health has given the committee insights into areas of improvement for mental health services. From the funding void, to a lack of cultural awareness, we have discovered a variety of issues which must be acted on without delay. With the active support of Ministers Alistair Burt and Sam Gymiah, the committee believes our recommendations can make a fundamental change in the foundations of the UK’s mental health provision and go even beyond that. The committee is very keen to hear the Government’s response to our recommendations.”

The Youth Select Committee has eleven committee members aged 14-18, and includes Members of the Youth Parliament (MYPs), youth councillors, a young mayor and one elected representative from each of the devolved nations. It is a British Youth Council initiative, supported by the House of Commons.

‘Young People’s Mental Health’ was chosen as the priority campaign of the UK Youth Parliament at its annual House of Commons debate last week Friday and in November 2014.

Download a copy of the report

During their evidence on 3rd July, Ministers took the opportunity to identify where the Youth Select Committee could contribute to Government policy. In response to a question from the Chair about how its report might inform and influence Minister Alistair Burt MP, Minister for Community and Social Care, suggested “How we keep children and young people safe on the internet; ideas for future digital apps; and how we can improve children and young peoples participation in policy making and planning for implementation”. Sam Gymiah MP, Minister for Childcare and Education, said “What can we do on a big scale to get peer-to-peer support working as part of our response in dealing with young people’s mental health issues?”. Both Minsters were interested in what ‘good’ mental health services would look like from the perspective of young people and their parents.

Professor Peter Fonagy, Clinical Director for Mental Health at NHS England who gave evidence earlier in the day underlined the importance of improving this area of services. “Do not lose sight of the tremendous opportunity that improving the mental health of children and young people represents for all of us-not just those of us working in this field, but everyone around us, and not just now, but in the future. We have a lever to improve everyone’s wellbeing through improving young people’s wellbeing.”

Mental health was voted as the priority campaign of the UK Youth Parliament, following their Make Your Mark ballot (90,549 young people voted for it) and their annual House of Commons debate in November 2014. Shortly after the committee called on the public to submit evidence and received over a hundred responses.

The committee will now go on to write their report on mental health awareness, education and services which will be published later this year.

Alistair Burt MP, Minister for Community and Social Care, said: “Children and young people’s mental health is my personal priority. It was both an honour and pleasure to provide evidence at the Youth Select Committee earlier this month. I am looking forward to the forthcoming report and would like to continue to work with the members so we can ensure that their views are incorporated into our work.”

Sam Gyimah MP, Minister for Childcare and Education, with responsibility for young people’s mental health, said: “One of this Department’s priorities is to support schools and colleges in helping young people succeed through developing good character, resilience and mental health. It was both a challenge and a pleasure to give evidence to such a knowledgeable and engaged committee on this vital issue. As I said at the committee, it’s really important that we listen to young people at all stages when we develop policy as well as designing and delivering services. I look forward to their report, which I’m sure will provide a valuable perspective on how to meet the challenges we face.”

Rhys Hart, Chair of the Youth Select Committee said: “It was fantastic to hear the testimony of so many people stepping forward to talk about such an important issue for young people in the UK. I’d like to thank the schools, young people, healthcare professionals, politicians and more – who from every corner of the country – and gave us such valuable evidence for our inquiry.”

Download Hansard Report

Friday 26th June 2015

Morning Session

Afternoon Session

Friday 3rd July 2015

Morning Session

Afternoon Session

Young representatives from across the UK will be questioning two Government Ministers as part of their  inquiry into mental health, focussing on awareness, education and the current services on offer for young people. Seeing is believing – the proceedings are broadcast live on BBC Democracy Live with the Ministers appearing on BBC Parliament from 4pm-5pm.

Alistair Burt MP, Minister of State for Community and Social Care and Sam Gyimah MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Childcare and Education will be giving evidence to the Youth Select Committee this Friday 3^rd July 2015 in Parliament. The Youth Select Committee is a British Youth Council initiative, supported by the House of Commons. The eleven committee members are aged 13-18 and include two Members of the UK Youth Parliament (MYPs), two youth councillors, a Young Mayor, one elected representative from each of the devolved nations and three reserved seats.

James Cathcart, Chief Executive of the British Youth Council: “This youth-led enquiry by a cross section of representative young people enables and empowers the voice of youth to contribute to, and shape the policy agenda, it’s a new and credible way to engage young people in our democracy and deserves more recognition. The young people are well prepared, passionate but courteous in the questioning. Last week the House of Commons voted to permit the UK Youth Parliament to hold annual debates in the Chamber. This enquiry topic arose out of last year’s debate – and we call on MPs to debate the final report when its published in the autumn.”

Rhys Hart, Chair of the Youth Select Committee and Member of Youth Parliament for Shropshire said: “With mental health so high on the agenda for young people I’m extremely delighted that the Government will be responding to the calls of the Youth Select Committee. Our inquiry is set on finding some recommendations for improving awareness, education and the services on offer for young people and we’re extremely grateful to the practitioners, young people and charities that are prepared to stand before us to give evidence on such a hard hitting subject.”

Mental health was voted as the priority campaign of the UK Youth Parliament in their annual House of Commons debate in November 2014.This followed their Make Your Mark ballot when 876,000 young people voted and identified this it as a top five issue. The committee called on the public to submit evidence and  received over a hundred responses.

Following last week’s oral evidence session with Royal College of Psychiatrists, Healthwatch, Television Presenter Anna Williamson and more the Youth Select Committee will be hosting its second oral evidence session with practitioners from the School and Public Health Nurses Association, young people from the NHS Youth Forumand charities from Ditch The Label, , before the Ministers in the afternoon. The Youth Select Committee mirrors the UK Parliament Select Committee structure and gives young people the opportunity to scrutinise and hold enquiries into topics of importance to them. The Youth Select Committee has received induction training and mentoring from Parliamentary Clerks and British Youth Council staff.

The session will be open to the public on a first come, first served basis. For meetings in Portcullis House, the entrance is located on Victoria Embankment. There is no system for the prior reservation of seats in Committee Rooms. It is advisable to allow about 30 minutes to pass through security checks. Committee rooms and the timing of meetings are subject to change.

Find out more about the committee members. 

Find out more about our second oral evidence session

The Youth Select Committee is conducting an inquiry into mental health, focussing on awarness, education and the current services on offer for young people. The committee will be holding its first oral evidence session in the Thatcher Room in Portcullis House on Friday 26th June 2015.

The Youth Select Committee is a British Youth Council initiative, supported by the House of Commons. The eleven committee members are aged 13-18 and include two Members of the UK Youth Parliament (MYPs), two youth councillors, a Young Mayor, one elected representative from each of the devolved nations and three reserved seats.

Rhys Hart, Chair of the Youth Select Committee said: “With over 140 pieces of submitted evidence from young patients to paediatricians and politicians, we now have a real variety of detailed and valuable evidence, and we are extremely thankful to all those who submitted. Our first oral evidence on Friday 26th June will give us the opportunity to hear from a wide range of people from up and down the country. Mental health is a sensitive but significantly important issue to young people with over 90,500 voting for it in the ‘Make your Mark’ campaign last year. I am eager to begin the oral evidence stages and I’m looking forward to what the panellist have to say.”

Mental health was voted as the priority campaign of the UK Youth Parliament, following their Make Your Mark ballot (90,549 young people voted for it) and their annual House of Commons debate in November 2014. Shortly after the committee called on the public to submit evidence and recieved over a hundred responses.

During the Youth Select Committee’s oral evidence session they will hear from interested parties who submitted evidence including national bodies like the Royal College of Psychiatrists, schools and young people from various parts of the country. The Youth Select Committee mirrors the UK Parliament Select Committee structure and gives young people the opportunity to scrutinise and hold enquiries into topics of importance to them. The Youth Select Committee has received induction training and mentoring from Parliamentary Clerks and British Youth Council staff.

For the first time the committee are also asking members of the public to get in touch via social media and share their thoughts on questions such as:

• How can we to prevent stigma and discrimination towards young people with mental health issues?
• Do you feel informed about the mental health services available to you?
• Is education on mental health in schools sufficient? Should it be a compulsory part of the National Curriculum?

Anyone with ideas to share or questions they would like the committee to put to their witnesses is invited to share them on Twitter using #youthselect. Tweets will be included in the brief for the committee and may be included in the final report which will be presented to the government in autumn.

The session will be open to the public on a first come, first served basis. For meetings in Portcullis House, the entrance is located on Victoria Embankment. There is no system for the prior reservation of seats in Committee Rooms. It is advisable to allow about 30 minutes to pass through security checks. Committee rooms and the timing of meetings are subject to change.

Find out more about the committee members. 

Find out more about our first oral evidence session

The Youth Select Committee today announces a new inquiry into mental health, to explore issues around awareness, education and services for young people (under 25) and is calling for evidence from a wide range of witnesses, including experts, parliamentarians and young campaigners. The Youth Select Committee (YSC) is a British Youth Council initiative, supported by the House of Commons. The eleven committee members are aged 13-18 and include two Members of the UK Youth Parliament (MYPs), two youth councillors, a Young Mayor, one elected representative from each of the devolved nations and three reserved seats.

Rhys Hart, Chair of the Youth Select Committee (18, MYP for Shropshire – pictured above), said:””Mental Health is a sensitive and important topic for young people, ranging from stress to suicide and school support to hospitalisation. To investigate this, the Youth Select Committee will need to demonstrate care and capability in its approach. I am absolutely positive that we will create an extensive and strong report fed by diverse pieces of evidence to be able to develop considered recommendations to the government”.

The Youth Select Committee will look at the three themes of awareness, education and services as part of its inquiry.

The Committee call for evidence closes at noon on 22nd May 2015 and the Youth Select Committee will hold oral evidence sessions in the House of Commons in June and July 2015.

Mental health was chosen as the subject for the inquiry by the British Youth Council following the UK Youth Parliament voting the topic as a priority campaign at its annual sitting in the House of Commons on November 2014, and BYC members voting on it to be an Election Campaign priority for the 2015-2020 Parliament. It was also a top five topic in the Make Your Mark youth referendum of 876,000 young people balloted across the UK.

The 2014 Youth Select Committee inquiry into “votes at 16” included written and oral evidence sessions and a final report with government response. Find out more about the 2014 enquiry here.

Interested groups or individuals are encouraged to submit written evidence to the inquiry. Written evidence should be received by the Committee no later than 12 pm on 22 May2015. The questions which written evidence should address are available via this page.

Please contact the inquiry team on bycyouthselect@parliament.uk